High Quantum Efficiency Nanoantenna Enhanced Organic Photodetector Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-109 Topic Title: High Quantum Efficiency Nanoantenna Enhanced Organic Photodetector Proposal No.: N112-109-0653 Firm: Hitron Technologies 7630 First Place Bedford, Ohio 44146-6713 Contact: Hailiang Zhang Phone: (603) 233-3231 Abstract: Hitron Technologies (HTI) proposes to develop a new solid state, light weight, high quantum efficiency, low noise, and high bandwidth Nanoantenna-Enhanced Organic PhotoDetector (NEOPD), based on an innovative design of nanoantenna and its novel integration with organic photomultiplication (OPM) photodetector. The OPM photodetector alone has already demonstrated its high quantum efficiency of up to 5000%, far exceeding Navy's requirement of 100% quantum efficiency. To meet the high bandwidth requirement of 100MHz, the thickness of organic photodetection layer will be decreased; meanwhile, the quantum efficiency reduction caused by thinner photodetection layer will be fully compensated by the absorption enhancement induced by the nanoantenna structure fabricated on one metal electrode layer. Additionally, a cross-linkable semiconductor buffer layer in the NEOPD structure is used to minimize the dark current noise for a low noise factor. In Phase-I a one inch size NEOPD prototype with a small portion of nanoantenna area will be developed to demonstrate its feasibility. Nanoantenna will be fabricated by focal ion beam (FIB) milling. In Phase-II, nanoimprint lithography will be adopted for large area nanoantenna fabrication. Benefits: There are many applications for a high quantum efficiency photodetector such as NEOPD. It can be used for all kinds of civil LIDAR detection system for geomatics, archaeology, geography, geology, geomorphology, seismology, forestry, remote sensing and atmospheric physics. It can also used for imaging acquisition in weak light condition, when combined with digital camera. NEOPD technology can also be used to improve the coupling efficient of light for solar cells. Return